Author’s note:
This article may not reveal anything new for most of you that have following the corporate fascist takeover of America, but some WI workers may not know what they are up against…
Excerpt:
People in Wisconsin watching the local news or many other popular programs on local networks have been given a steady dose of advertisements both for and against Gov. Walker’s “budget repair bill.”
The sponsors of the ads against the bill are clearly disclosed. They are funded by various unions that represent state employees. But whose funds pay for the pro-Walker ads?
The “issue ad” groups and political action committees rushing to the aid of Gov. Walker do not disclose their funders in their commercials. The money behind the madness, however, can be traced. The list of out-of-state, big money attacking Wisconsin state workers reads like a “who’s who” of Republican national donors and corporate special interest groups.
Here are a few of them:
Americans for Prosperity
Let’s start with the “Who Decides Wisconsin’s Future?” ad run by Americans for Prosperity (AFP).
The group launched a major ad campaign in Wisconsin shortly after news of the prank phone call between Governor Scott Walker and a fake David Koch made national news. As many Wisconsinites are well-aware of, AFP is Koch-funded.
According to Mary Bottari, writing for PR Watch.org, the organization has:
…two political action committees, the Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF), a 501(c)(3) public charity that received over $10 million in financial contributions in 2009 (a nearly 50% increase over the preceding year), and Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a 501(c)(4), that received over $16 million in financial contributions that year (a more than 100% increase over the year before). The tax forms for AFPF and AFP for their funding and expenses during last year, a mid-term election year, are not yet available.
A quick visit to the AFP web site reveals that the ad does indeed ask state citizens, “Who decides Wisconsin’s future: voters or government unions? And concludes with, “Governor Walker has the courage to do what’s right for Wisconsin. Stand With Walker.”
The AFP’s web site also boasts that the $342,200 ad buy ran on network and cable channels across the state through March 1st is a part of Americans for Prosperity’s “Stand With Walker” initiative, urging citizens to support the Governor’s “commonsense” plan for budget reform.
Republican Governors Association
The name of the above organization (RGA) may sound benign, but guess who gave them a $1 million dollar check last summer? If you answered David Koch, you are correct.
Club for Growth and Club for Growth Wisconsin
Founded in 1999, the Club for Growth (CFG) is a 501(c)(4) “civic league” that seeks to promote public policies it describes as “fiscally conservative.” It does not reveal its donors.
Economic Freedom Alliance
Even Karl Rove has his grubby little Texas paws into Wisconsin politics and the middle class here.
The Republican National Committee: “Stop Obama and His “Union Bosses” Today”
Now that the muppet Michael Steele is history, the RNC can spend more money on manipulating a state like Wisconsin into thinking their governor talks to God and knows what’s best for him and everyone. Instead of spending funds on hookers in LA., the RNC ad “showcases the efforts by Democrats and government unions to obstruct Republican reforms to tackle the debt at all levels of government and move the country forward.”
Dick Armey’s FreedomWorks
According to Dick, some of the “Most Protected Coddled Employees in the Country are Teachers.” Or any other any state worker like RNs, firefighters, police, administration personnel, snow plow drivers, etc. Hey everyone who makes less that a Wall Street executive, millionaire Dick Armey says you’re a bunch of coddled babies.
Enough yet? The League of American Voters cannot be left out.
The “League of American Voters” (LAV) has radio ads up. Click here to listen to their radio ad. LAV is also funding robo-calls in the state. (LAV’s 2009 tax filings are not on Guidestar; and financial contributions to LAV are not tax-deductible.)
Once again, a short trip to a web site reveals a lot. Apparently Dick Morris has to stick something into this issue. Tongue, toes, anyone?
This is our line in the snow., and we say “Enough!”
On Wisconsin!
Read more, get links, a slideshow and a video of Michael Morre’s speech in madison here: Madison Independent Examiner – Pro-Walker issue ads flooding Wisconsin media come from…